Inking mechanism for high-speed cylinder printing presses



July 1, 1958 K. KAUFMANN mxmc MECHANISM FOR HIGH-SPEED CYLINDER PRINTINGPRESSES Filed July 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A orneys by A July 1, 1958K. KAUFMANN 2,841,031

mxmc MECHANISM FOR HIGH-SPEED CYLINDER PRINTING PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 6, 1954 Jui 1, 1958 Filed July 6. 1954 K. KAUFMANN INKINGMECHANISM FOR HIGH-SPEED CYLINDER PRINTING PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllll lllllll i II .v vlll l nll Fig. 4

-- printing cycle refurn movemen!-- inking by roll 28 inking by roll 58inking by roll 58 In ven for: KKcz ufmann b m Q q Atfornep Unite INKINGMEQHANESM FOR HIGH-SPEED CYLINDER PRINTWG PRESSES Application July 6,1954, Serial No. 441,546

8 Claims. ((11. 101-353) This invention relates to an inking mechanismfor highspeed cylinder printing presses, and more particularlyhigh-speed stop-cylinder printing presses, having two groups of rollseach comprising a form inking roll, and has for its object to provide aninking mechanism which permits faultless inking of printing forms havinga configuration which renders them difficult to ink, and more especiallyof flat forms comprising recessed or cut-out portions.

Inking units are known which comprise two form inking rolls each drivenindependently of the form carriage with a speed higher than that of theaverage carriage speed, the speed of the rolls being modified to that ofthe carriage during the inking process. In an inking mechanism of thiskind the circumference of the form inking r-olls must correspond to thegreatest possible length of the printing form. Due to the fact thatthese inking mechanisms are driven at a substantially uniform speed, theform inking rolls can ink the form only once per printing cycle, andmust be lifted off the form during the return movement of the latter.Consequently, the two form inking rolls ink the form in two subsequentstages.

With forms requiring a great quantity of ink, application of the inkfilm in two stages is disadvantageous, because in this case the forminking rolls must carry a relatively thick film of ink which tends toclog the form. In order to obtain uniformly clean prints, the form mustbe frequently cleaned which every time necessitates a longer standstillof the machine and consequently has a detrimental eifect on production.Moreover, there is great danger of fouling the fresh prints, due to thefact that printing must be done with a thick film of ink. If the inkfilm would be applied to the form in three stages, it would be possibleto use a much thinner ink film on the form inking rolls which wouldgreatly reduce the tendency of clogging the form. This would mean,however, that an inking unit of this type would have to be provided withthree form inking rolls. A printing press working with three big forminking rolls the circumference of each of which corresponds to themaximum length of the form, would be much more expensive to build, dueto the fact that such a machine would require a longer carriage travel,and consequently would have to be provided with a larger printingcylinder and with a longer machine frame.

The invention provides the possibility of producing a faultless anduniform three-stage ink film on the form, using but two form inkingrolls. An important feature of the invention resides in the fact thatthe group of rolls comprising the one form inking roll is drivenindependently and continuously, while the group of rolls comprising theother form inking roll is driven forwardly and backwardly by thecarriage. In the context of this specification, an independent andcontinuous drive of the one form inking roll inking the form only in onedirection, means a drive working independently of the carriage at asubstantially uniform speed which is higher than the grates Patent asilfi i patented July 1, 1958 average speed of the carriage, the speedbeing modified to that of the carriage during the inking process.

For improving the breaking up of ink as regards the forwardly andbackwardly rotating form inking roll which inks the form in bothdirections the invention further provides at least two saturation pointseach formed by a distributor roll, which are associated with said formink ing roll.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, both groups ofrolls may be connected by a pendulously arranged break-up roll in therange in which they operate at equal speeds, also, the drive of thecontinuously rotating form inking roll may be taken off the crank andslot mechanism driving the front delivery mechanism of the machine,whereby the cost of construction of the machine .is substantiallyreduced. Another important feature of embodied, by way of example only,in a high-speed stopcylinder printing press.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in diagrammatic view of a V printing pressembodying the inking mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the inking mechanism showingboth applying rollers in ink applying position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inking mechanism comprising varioussectional views arranged in a common plane;

Fig. 4 is a speed diagram, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with one applyving roller raisedas the carriage moves rearwardly.

The carriage 2 carrying the printing form 1 is reciprocated in the usualmanner by a pinion 3, connecting rod 4 and crank wheel 5. The printedsheet is removed from the printing cylinder 6 by the chain deliverymechanism 7 which comprises two gripper bears, 8.-'

The chain delivery mechanism is continuously driven at a non-uniformspeed which is governed by the speed i with which the printing cylinderrotates at the moment of sheet transfer. On the crankshaft 9 is mounteda gear 10 meshing with a crank wheel 11 which carries a roller pin 12engaging in a slot 13 of a wheel 14, the

center of which is offset in relation to the center of crank wheel 11.While wheel 11 rotates continuously at uniform speed, the wheel 14revolves at a non-uniform speed, its rotational movement beingtransmitted by an idler gear 15 to the wheel 17 secured on the shaft 16of the chain delivery mechanism. By properly selecting the centerdistance of the two wheels 11, 14 relative of each other, as well as theform of the cam profile 13,

the speed of the chain delivery mechanism is modified in such a manner,that during removal of the sheet from the printing cylinder 6 itcorresponds with the speed of the latter. a sprocket 18 is mounted (Fig.3), which via a chain 19 drives the sprocket 21 secured on the inkingcylinder shaft 20. Mounted rotationally fast on the shaft 20 by means ofa key 22 is an inking cylinder 23 which together with the two break-uprolls 24 and 25 (Figs. 1 and 2) constitutes the continuously rotatinggroup of inking rolls.

The fresh ink required per print is taken off from the fountain roll 27running in the ink fountain, by a pick-up roll 26 and transferred to thecontinuously rotating break-up roll 25. The'form inking roll 28cooperating with the inking cylinder 23 is supported for pivotal carriedby arms 30 capable of pivotal movement about On the shaft 16 of thedelivery mechanism the central axis of inking cylinder 23. The forminking roll arms 30 are constantly urged in a direction towards theprinting form by compression springs 31. On the form inking roll arms 30is further provided a cam 32 which carries a set screw 33 abuttingagainst a segment member 34 bearing in turn against a rotatable squaremember 35. The segment member 34 is also supported for rotationalmovement about the central axis of the inking cylinder 23. The height ofthe form inking roll relative to the form may be adjusted by means ofthe set screw 33, while the distance between form inking roll and inkingcylinder can be set by adjusting the bearings 29 (Fig. 3).

Since the form inking roll will ink the form only in one direction, itmust be raised prior to the second passage of the form. This is effectedin a simple manner by turning the square member 35 (Fig. 2). Thereby asmall amount of left-hand rotational movement is imparted to the segmentmember 34, which via the screw 33 is transmitted to the form inking rollarms 30 swinging them about the central axis of the inking cylinder inan upward direction, so that the form may freely pass below the forminking roll 28. Rotation of the square member 35 is derived from thepick-up and ductor roll as follows:

The crankshaft 9 carries a crank pin 36 which through connecting rod 37,bell crank lever 38 and link 39 reciprocates a segment lever 41 mountedon the pick-up roll shaft 40. On the one hand, this reciprocationoperates the pick-up roll 26, and on the other hand controls the inkfountain roll 27 in a manner not shown. The segment lever 41 comprises acam segment 42 on which runs a roller 43 mounted on a lever 44 which isfixed directly on the shaft of the square member 35. The cam profile ofthe segment 42 and the timing are so chosen, that the roller 43 rides onthe low part of the cam segment 42 when the form inking roll 28 issupposed to ink the form. Upon rotation of the cam segment 42 in aclockwise direction, the roller 43 rides up the higher part of the camprofile, whereby the square member 36 is being turned and the forminking roll 28 lifted off the form.

The machine further comprises a forwardly and backwardly running groupof rolls arranged around the steel distributor roll 51 (Figs. 1 and 2).This group comprises a break-up roll 55 and a steel roll 56 pivotableabout said break-up roll, as well as another break-up roll 57 arrangedfor pendulous movement about the steel distributor roll 51. The forminking roll 58 associated with this group of rolls is supplied withfresh ink by the steel distributor 51 as well as by the steel roll 56.

The break-up roll 57 is supported in levers 59' (Fig. 3) pivotable aboutthe central axis of the steel distributor roll 51 and connected withlever 44 by a link 60. Parts 60 and 59 were omitted on the left side ofFigure 3 in order to avoid what would be a complicated showing in thedrawing. A torsion spring 61 constantly urges the break-up roll 57against the inking cylinder 23.

The forwardly and backwardly rotating group of rolls is driven from thecarriage rack in the usual manner as follows: The gear 47 running on aflange 46 engages with the rack 45 (Fig. 1) and transmits the forwardand backward rotation to the gear 48 mounted on the cylinder shaft 20(Fig. 3), which in turn drives the gear 50 of the steel distributor roll51 through an intermediate gear 49., The gear 48 does not only serve thepurpose of positively transmitting the forward and backward movement tothe steel distributor roll 51, but is also employed for lateralbreaking-up of the ink on the inking cylinder 23; for this latterpurpose the gear 48 is provided with an internal thread engaging with acorresponding thread of the fixed bearing sleeve 52. In an axialdirection, this gear 48 is connected with the inking cylinder 23 bymeans of the ball bearing 53, since the inner race of said ball bearing53 is secured on the gear 48 and the outer race within the inkingcylinder 23, by means of a ring nut 54. Consequently, the inkingcylinder 23 can execute the rotational movement imparted to it by theshaft 20, while the gear 48 reciprocates the cylinder 23 laterally in anaxial direction by means of its internal thread and its forward andbackward rotation.

Figure 2 illustrates the parts in the position in which the applyingroller 28 rests on the type form. In this position roller 57 abutsinking cylinder 23.

When the roller 43 (Fig. 2) rides up the high portion of the cam segment42, this has not only the effect of lifting the form inking roll 28 olfthe form due to the linkage described earlier, but also brings thebreak-up roll 57 out of engagement with the inking cylinder 23. When theroller 43 in its travel along the peripheral edge of the cam segment 42reaches the lower portion of the cam profile, the form inking roller 28is lowered on the form, and simultaneously the break-up roll 57 isbrought into engagement with the inking cylinder 23, where it takes upthe already well broken-up and distributed ink, feeding it to theforwardly and backwardly rotating group of rolls. During this periodboth groups of rolls rotate at the same speed.

In Figure 5 the parts are illustrated in the lower terminal position.The guide link 39 has risen and in doing so has swung the cam segment 42about pick-up roll shaft 40. The cam segment 42 thereby has pressedroller 43 somewhat downward so that lever 44 and square member 35 areswung counterclockwise. By means of link the lever 59 is swung somewhatcounterclockwise so that break-up roll 57 is lifted from inking cylinder23.

Square member 35 by its rotation has acted on projection 34 and therebycaused a left turn of segment 34 so that also projection 34 is turnedand through screw 33 and arm 32 the inking roll arms 30 and thereby theinking cylinder 28 are lifted from the type form 1.

In the speed diagram shown in Fig. 4, the sine curve drawn in brokenlines represents the movement diagram of the form I mounted on thecarriage. The curve drawn in full shows the non-uniform speed to whichthe uniform speed is converted by the crank and slot mechanism, and atwhich are driven the gripper chains of the sheet delivery mechanism aswell as the continuously rotating group of rolls of the inking unit. Asmay be seen from the diagram, the uniform speed requires only a slightmodification for partial adaptation to the carriage speed, due to thefact that the position of the form inking roll 28 relative to thecarriage movement is such, that the middle of its inking period issituated approximately at the apex of the sine curve of the carriagemovement. The middle of the inking period of the form inking roll 58which is driven exclusively according to the sine curve of the diagram,is situated well ahead of the apex of the sine curve of the carriagemovement during the printing cycle, and well behind said apex during thereturn travel of the carriage, as is usual practice. The three inkingsections shown in the diagram correspond to the application of an inkfilm to the form in three stages.

The speed of the continuously rotating groups of rolls is so chosen,that the form inking roll 23 executes slightly more than 5 revolutionsper print, which in the present case are fully available for equalizingall weakly and strongly inked spots that have been produced by thesingle contact with the form. Consequently, the form inking roll 28 willhave a completely uniform ink film after 5 revolutions which is just asuniformly transferred to the printing form due to the fact that thecircumference of said form inking roll corresponds to the greatestpossible length of the form.

The forwardly and backwardly rotating group of rolls being connectedwith the continuously rotating group of rolls by the break-up roll 57during the inking period of form inking roll 28, it will receive acompletely uniform fresh ink film from said break-up roll. Even thoughthe inking roll 58 which inks the form during forward and backwardtravel, continuously transmits weakly and strongly inked spots to thisgroup of rolls, the inequalities in inking produced on the form inkingroll 58are eliminated twice as quickly and efficiently by the twosaturation points constituted by the steel distributors 51, 56, thanwould be the case with single saturation, so that this form inking roll,the circumference of which also corresponds to the greatest possiblelength of the form, will likewise apply an approximately uniformtwo-stage ink film to the form.

The inking process per printing operation is as follows: During thereturn movement of the carriage the form 1 receives the first inkapplication from the roll 58; during the subsequent printing cycle itwill receive the second application also from roll 58, and immediatelyafter this the final and third ink coating of absolute uniformity fromthe roll 28. Consequently, an inking mechanism constructed in the mannerand with the combination described in the foregoing will, without themachines stroke being increased, assure a quality of inking that cannever be obtained with a forwardly and backwardly rotating inking unitof usual construction, and which with inking rolls inking but in onedirection could be achieved only by substantially increasing the strokeof the carriage, which would entail a considerable increase in cost.

The direction of rotation of the roll 28 is so chosen, that it will inkthe form when it enters the printing cycle. This is not absolutelynecessary, but was considered convenient only because of the fact thatin this case the drive of the sheet delivery mechanism can be used tooperate the continuously rotating group of rolls. Provided that aseparate drive is provided, the adaptation of the speed of thecontinuously rotating inking roll group to the movement of the form may,of course, be also effected during the return movement of the carriage,i. e. the inking may be accomplished during this period; This willdepend solely on the design of the machine, respectively on theprinciple according to which the high-speed printing press isconstructed. It will be noted that the inking mechanism according to theinvention may also be applied to a high-speed swinging cylinder printingpress or to a single or two-revolution printing press, provided that onegroup of rolls of the inking unit is driven at a speed higher than theaverage carriage speed, it being possible to connect this group ofrolls, for example, to a driving unit required for this type of machine.

I claim:

1. An inking mechanism for high-speed cylinder printing presses, andmore particularly for high-speed stopcylinder printing presses, having acarriage adapted to support a printing form for forward and backwardmovement, said inking mechanism comprising a first group of co-operatingrolls including a first single form inking roll adapted to be drivenindependently and continuously, means for lifting said first form inkingroll from said printing form during backward movement of said printingform, and a second group of co-operating rolls comprising a secondsingle form inking roll and adapted to be driven forwardly andbackwardly by said carriage.

2. An inking mechanism as set forth in claim 1 comprising at least twodistributor rolls associated with said second single forwardly andbackwardly rotating form inking roll and constituting saturation pointsfor said second form inking roll.

3. An inking mechanism as set forth in claim 2 including a break-up rollarranged for oscillatory movement and adapted to connect said first andsaid second group of rolls during a period in which both of said groupsrotate at the same speed.

4. An inking mechanism for high-speed cylinder printing presses, andmore particularly for high-speed stopcylinder printing presses having acarriage adapted to support a printing form for forward and backwardmovement, and a sheet delivery mechanism, said inking mechanismcomprising, a first group of co-operating rolls including a first singleform inking roll and adapted to be driven independently and continuouslyin one direction of rotation, means to bring said first single forminking roll into contact with said printing form during forward movementonly of said form, a second group of co-operating rolls including asecond single form inking roll and adaptedto be driven forwardly andbackwardly by said carriage, and a slot and crank mechanism adapted todrive said first continuously driven form inking roll from said sheetdelivery mechanism, the speed of said sheet delivery mechanism, beingmodified by said slot and crank mechanism, corresponding to the inkingspeed.

5. In an inking mechanism for high speed stop cylinder presses, acarriage adapted to support a printing form for backward and forwardreciprocating movement, two roller groups each including a single forminking roller, each form inking roller having a circumference whichcorresponds substantially to the maximum printing form length, oneinking roller being driven continuously, means for lifting said oneinking roller from said printing form during backward movement of saidprinting form, the other inking roller being driven with said carriagealternately forwardly and backwardly.

6. In an inking mechanism as claimed in claim 5, ink being supplied tosaid other inking roller by at least two rubbing rollers.

7. In an inking mechanism as claimed in claim 5, said two roller groupsbeing connected through a raisable rubbing roller during the time whenboth supplying rollers are supplying ink to the type form.

8. In an inking mechanism as claimed in claim 5, said two roller groupsbeing supplied with ink by a common inking cylinder driven continuouslyin one direction of rotation, and means whereby said common inkingcylinder is reciprocated axially by the reciprocatory motion of saidcarriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,073,836 Barber Sept. 23, 1913 1,971,081 Newton et al. Aug. 21, 19342,170,027 Kaufmann Aug. 22, 1939

